Providence, RI: House lawmakers on Wednesday for the first time introduced statewide legislation that seeks to legalize the production, distribution, and personal use of marijuana for adults age 21 and older.
As introduced, House Bill 7838: The Taxation and Regulation of Marijuana Act, would exempt adults from any statewide criminal or civil penalty for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, the not-for-profit transfer of small amounts of marijuana, and/or the cultivation of up to three marijuana plants. The proposal also establishes licensing requirements for the commercial cultivation and distribution of marijuana via retail facilities. Licensed commercial producers will be imposed a $50 per ounce excise tax under the measure.
Under current law, the possession of any amount of marijuana is a criminal misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $500 fine. The cultivation or sale of marijuana of any amount of marijuana is classified as a felony offense, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
In February, lawmakers introduced separate legislation – H. 7317 – which seeks to reduce minor marijuana possession offenses to a civil offense punishable by no more than a $150 fine.
A special legislative task force is conducting an ongoing review of the state’s marijuana policies. The nine-member panel is required to issue its recommendations to the legislature by March 31, 2010.
Similar marijuana legalization bills have been debated already this year in California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Washington.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at 202-483-5500. For additional information regarding HB 7317, please visit NORML’s ‘Take Action Center’ at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/.